Beet-harvester.



E. H. HOLLIS. B EET HARVESTER.

' APPLICATION FILED 00115, 1912.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914 10 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES:

V A TTOR/VE Y E. H. HOLLIS.

BEET HARVESTBR.

APPLICATION FILED 00115, 1912.

1 C9221 6 Patented Apr. 7, 1914 10 SHEETSSHEET 2.

29/ WITNESSES: INVENTOR Afro/my E. H. HOLLIS.

BEET HARVESTBR.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.15, 1912.

1 092,216. Patented Apr.7,1914 9/5BETSSHEET3.

INVENTOR E.'H. HOLLIS.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION TILED 0612 15, 1912.

1 ,O92,21 6. Patented Apr. '7, 19m

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IIVVEIVTOR ATTBORNEY E. H. HOLLIS.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED 001 .15, 1912 10 SHEETS-SHEET s.

Patented Apr 19M INVENITOR [/1 /70///Q5? WITNESSES:

AT'TORIVEY E. H."HOLLIS.'

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION IILBD 00115, 1912.

Patented Apt. '7, 19M

10 EHEETS-SHEET 6.

WITNESSES:

' A nomvsy E. H. HOLLIS. BEE-T HARV ESTBR. APPLICATION FILED 00115, 1912. 1,092,221 6.. Patented Apr. '7, 1914L 10 SHEETS-SHEET '7.

ewm /75 INVENTOR ATfOR/VEY .1

I E. -H. HOLLIS.

BEET HARVESTER. APPLIGATION nun-90115, 1912,

Patented Apr. "7, 1914.

10 SHEETSSHEET B.

IIVI/E/VTOR V 7 5/70/ 255:

' w rrvssssmsz- E. H. HOLLIS; BEET HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED 0OT.15, 1912.

1,92,21 6', I Patented Apr. 7, 191 I I 10 Sgnms-snnm 1o.

13 76) Emil similar view of the upper portion of the confna s are.

ELBERT'H. HOLLIS, or KANSAS GI'DY, KA1\TSAS, A'sslenon. or FORTY-NINE ONE ioeaaia To all whom itm-rzy concern. i

Be it known that I, ELBERT H. HOLLIS, a

.citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Kansas City, in the county -of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Har-' I vesters; and I do declare the following to be invention, such as will enable Others skilled a full, clear, and exact description of the in the artito which it appertains to make and use the same, reference. being had to the ac-- companying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

' lVIy invention relates to beet harvesters, and has for its principal object to provide 'an-apparatus of that character whereby beets may be dug from the ground, their tops'cut and sprouts removed, beets and tops delivered into a common receptacle and finally piled with'the beets covered by the tops to protect same fromthe weather, such opera "tions occurring 1n proper sequence during the travel of the beetthrough' the apparatus.

In accomplishing this object, I have provided the improved details of structure hereinafter described and illustrated in the'accon'ipanyiiig drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspectlve view of a beet harvester constructed according t0 my'1nveution. Fig. II is anenlarged detail perspective of the shovel for removing the beets I from the ground. Fig. III is a similar view of the lower portion of the conveyer showing the belts and notching knives. Fig. IV is a veyer illustrating the flexible'frame. Fig. V

' is aninverted perspective view of the lower conveyer. Fig. VI is a transverse section of the conveyor andnotching knlves. Fig. VII

is an .enlarged elevation ,of the notching knives. Fig. VIII is a plan View ofsam'e.

- Fig. IX is a' rear perspective of the upper portion of the conveyer frame showing the 1 top cutting knives. Fig. X is a detail perspoctive of a portion of the upper conveyor belt. Fig. XI is 'a'd'etail perspective of the main clutch and shipping levr. Fig XII 1s an enlarged rear elevation of the transmission mechanism showing the beet carrying parts in relative positions. Fig. XIII is a diagrammatic view of the carrying clamps Fig. XIV is a detail perspective of one ofthe clamps and its operating mechanism. Fig. XV is a detail perspective of the driv- IBEETsH-AItVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 15, 1912. sci-mine. 725,7'74.

' taken on the line XX-XX, Fig. XVII.

HUNDREDTHS TO JOHN THOMAS, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS Patented 'me'chanism. Fig. XVI is a plan view of the Apr. "Z, 1914i.

ing gear wheel'forming part of the clamp transmission gearing for operating'the beet Q clamps and trimmers. Fig. XVII is aside elevationof 'one of theclamp sets, the gear casings for the set being in vertical section,

on line XVII XVII, Fig. XVI.- Fig.

XVIII is a vertical section of the transmission illustrated in Fig. XVI. Fig. XIX is a longitudinalview, partly in section, of one" of. the trimmers and its operating mechanism. Flg; XX is a detail perspective'of the initial clutchffor. controlling the different operations, the part in the foreground being Fig. XXI is a detailview, partly in section, I of the latch operable bv the clutch controlled member and adapted for releasing the trans.- nussion clutch to throw the initial clutch mechanism into operation. Fig. XXII is a detail plan view of the transmission for actuating the upper conveyer belts. Fig. XXIII. is an inverteddetail perspective of the upper end of the conveyer frame showing the belt tightening mechanism. Fig.

XXIV is a vertical section of one of the lower conveyer sheave wheels and its drivs ing gear.- Fig. XXV is an elevation of one of'the upper sheaves showing the spring for tensioning the sheave upwardly. 1F ig. XXVI is an end view of the beet and top receptacle. Fig. XXVII is a plan view of the beet and top receptacle. Fig. XXVIII -is an enlarged inverted perspective of one of th conveyer blocks. Fig. XXIX is a perspective view of the ratchet for the driving wheels. Fig. is a perspective view of the-clutch for releasing the clamp arms. Fig. XXXI is a section on the line XXXI XXXI, Fig. XX. 1

forwardly, allowing the wheels to operate independently of each. other.

Suspended fromthe upper part of frame 1 is a hanging frame? to which the doubletree,

or any suitable draft device 7 '.may be attached, and which isalso provided. with a guard 7 that extends in front of one of the ground'wheels.

Journaled in bearings 8 on the frame 1 isa rod 9 having forwardly directed-levers 1 fixed thereon and provided at'their free nds with 11 which are in turn pivotally connected with porting shovel hangers 12 and adapted for sup- (Fig 11), the

a lower ends ofwhich are directed forwardly.

andare connected, the shovel 13 having rearwardly directed fingers 14 adapted for delivering beets dug by the shovel onto the conveyer, presently described. The-hangers 12 carry a forwardly directed frame 15 having vertical bearings 16 within 'which the shafts 18 of the colter yokes 19 are-revolubly 'mounted, said yokes in turn carrying the colters 20 which are adaptedfor travel on opposite sides of and in front of theshovel 13 in order to mark a furrowat the sides of the beet groove, ,and assist the shovel in providing the yoke beets without unnecessarily disturbing the soil at the sides of the row. Inasmuch as there may .besome irregularity in the rows, 1 provide for varying the direction of the colters and shovels by shafts 18 with levers 22 which are connected by a rod 23 having con- .unc overing the ,nection, with a crankmember 24 on a rod 25 which is j'ournaled in a bearing 26 on the frame 7 and provided with a hand-wheel 27 adjacent the operators seat so thatan opershovel with a crank member 30 having a 31"1eading to a lever 32 adjacent the operator on the apparatus may bymanipulating hand-wheel turn the colters in order that they may follow a row.

In order to vary the depth of the shovel so that it need only dig to'sufficient'depth to uncover the beets/I provide the rod 9 which, through the arms 10, carries 'thg ators position. The lever 32 has a latch 33 adapted for coiiperation with a quadrant '34 forholding' the shovel at a desired elevation.

Suspended. from the mainframe 1, near clined section 36' connected therewith by aboutthe center thereof,'is-a conveyer plat; form 36, preferably comprising angle irons and having a forwardly and downwardly in hinge members 37, so that the extension may havelateral or vertical adjustability. The

lower end of the conveyer frame 36 III) near the forward part of the mainframe 1 is suspendedfrom the hand lever 38 by a bail 38. Fixed within the platform 36 are angle members 40 arranged in parallel relation with their inner edges spaced to form a channel 41 their lower endsbeing in substantial alinement with the stationary members 36 of the outer platform bars and,

connected with extension members 40' by universal hinges 42 in order that the ex- The greater portion *of the horizontal flanges of members 40' are cut away at their lower ends toaffordreater space for mounting and to expose the conveyer mechanism presently described, vertical flanges, as well as those of members 36 being curved forwardly at the sides of the shovel.

In the lower ends of the inner frame memthe lower ends of the' v tensions may move laterally or vertically to follow the shovel,.as..iwill presently be described. Y

bers 40 are rollers 4'3which areadapted to engage the vertical shoveI' bars 12 in order that the parts may move freely relative toeach otherwhen either part is adjusted, either manually or automatically.

Fixed to the frame 36,- wardly therefrom to the front of each'of the colters is a u r 44 having a finger 45' and extending fordirected over the inner side of the ,colter v t'o turn the beet tops nto'the path of the shovel, and having a body portion 46 bent upwardly over the colter-a-nd extended above the inner conveyer frame 40 440 and above rounding each stud 48 is a spring 50 which is adapted for yieldingly' :tensioningl the sheave wheel 49 upwardly on its stu On the lower portion of" the convey'er frame from which the greater portion of the ton flanges are removed are brackets 52 .(Fig. and revolubly rndunted in said brackets are studs 53, similar to the studs '48 heretofore described,'each of said studs having a sheave wheel 49*revolubly each being provided with a beveled gearwheel 54 on its upper face.

. Journaled'in a 'bearing55. (Figs. III and XXII) carried by the lower end of the inner conveyer 'frame 40 and in a bearing 56 on a bracket 57 also mounted on said frame, is a shaft 58 having beveled gear wheels' ;59

meshing with the gear wheels 54 on .the' sheaves 49 whereby the end sheave wheel is driven from the next lowest.

' The last named whe 1 receives its driving power from a beveled gear 60 which is fixed on a shaft 61' that is journaled inthe bearing 57 and has a beveled gear wheel 62 on its outer end meshing-with a mating gear 63 on a worm wheel 64 that is revolubly mounted mounted thereon, and the two lower wheels on the outer conveyer frameand constitutes a step-down mechanism.

A shaft 65 is revolubly mounted in bearings 66 on the'euter conveyer frame and has a Worm 67 at its lower end which meshes with the worm wheel 64 and .drives same to actuate the convey-er sheave wheels, the shaft 65 havinga beveled gear wheel 68 v (Fig. IV)

" which is drivenby a pinion 68 having a flexible joint 68"" (Fig. 'XVI) on a shaft 68'which extends to and has step up geared connection 69 with the counter shaft 70 which is, journaled in bearings71 on the main frame and has driving connection with the axle 2 through a chain 78 and sprocket Wheels 747 5, a clutch 76 of any ordinary constructionbeing provided for the drive shaft and adapted for control from a lever 77 located adjacent. the' operators seat (FigXI).

Running over the sheave wheels 49 is a chain 80 having teeth 81 thereon (Fig. X)

arranged in pairs in the opposite belts so that when the sheaves revolve the chains will be carried upwardly in their inner path and the teeth 81 will pair'to grip a'beet therebetween. y V Y The transmission for the conveyer chains is arranged to. travel at thesame speed. as the machine so that when the conveyer teeth grip a beet delivered thereto from the shovel the beet will not be jerked from the ground by the travel of the belt or'by' the drag thereof, but will rise perpendicularly as the inachinetravels forwardly, thereby easily removing same from the ground and obviating thepulling of the-tops therefrom;

In order to afford some resiliency to the conveyer belts and still retain them sufficiently taut to-handle the beets, I mount the upper wheels 49 on a sliding crossbar 83 at the topof anauxiliary frame 84 carried by a cross member 85 onthe main frame 1, and

suitably braced from the rear of the frame and provide the side membersof said extension frame withexpansion'springs 86 (Fig. XXIII), which are adapted to push outwardly on the crossbar to tension the conveyer belts.

Slidably mounted in apertures in the sides of the innerco-nveyer frame members, near the bottom thereof, are paired pins 87 which carry blocks 88 beneath the conveyer belts and are surrounded by expansion springs 89 which bear against the inner faces 'of the frame members and against the blocks to yieldingly tension the latter outwardly into the path of beets riding upwardly into the conveyer.

Each of the blocks 88 (Fig. XXVIII) has an, outwardly bowed bearing surface 88 which back turned to form a concaved seat 90 adapted to lie over the upper ends of the beets, as the l'atter bear thereagainstand bevond the beets so that they are held in v top ofthe beet.

vertical position as they are carried upwardly, theblocks being yieldable in order to accommodatebeets of different size.

The 'studs 53 which carry the' ne-xt to the bottom sheave wheels 49 extend down beneath their brackets and carry sprockets 93..

Hingedly mountedto the inner faces of r the inner conveyer frame members 40', above the sprocket wheels 93, are arms 96 (Fig.

V), and revolubly'mollnted on the under. faces of said arms are. sprocket wheels 97,

the upper arm of each series terminating beneath the central portion of the main frame 1. V

Running overthe sprocket wheels 93 and 97 are chain belts 98, each of which has teeth '99 projected outwardly therefrom and preferably so arranged that when the paired belts are traveling through their inner circuit the teeth will be paired so that they may :gripthelower portion of a beet therebe- In order to hold-the arms 96 projected inwardly at substantially a right angle to the frame members,- I provide springs 100, the opposite ends of which are connected to the frame members andto the arms and are adapted to pull backwardly against the arms provided with paired bearingsylOQ (Fig.

VI), and journale'd in said bearings are' shafts 103, each of which carries a circular saw 104, the shafts and saws being arranged at an incline relative to the travel of'beet's through the conveyer, and both of the saws being arranged below the plane of the conveyer-.members. so that they converge inwardly and" upwardly.

f Each of the frame members is provided with a guard plate 105 which extendsfover the outer face of its saw and protects same from frictional contact traveling up the conveyer in order that the saws may have free revoluble movement.

Fixed on the inner .frame members above the bearings 102 are similar but oppositely inclined bearings 107, each of which carries a shaft 108 \which inturn' carries a circu--: lar saw 109, theupper saws converging in wardly and downwardly so that when oper-" ated in conjunction with the lower saws they Y will out a V-shape notch at each side of the The upper saws have hoods 110 covering their upper'edges and protecting samefrom the beet tops or from, interference on ac-f wardly"by-the .conveyer to a gripper into count of dirt or thelike droppingthereonto from above.- v

Each ofth'e' shafts 103 and 108 has a'beveled gear 103' and 108, meshing with'a bev eled gear 6565 'on the shaft 65 which is supported on the conveyeri frameI and driven as heretofore-described,{the difference in'size between the gear' wheels and worm mechanism causing the saws to revolve much more rapidly than the elevatorsheave wheels, in order that the saws may operate properly and the conveyor belts be driven at the proper speed.

After a beet has passed the saws which cut the notches therein, it is carried on upwhich it is delivered and within which it is held so that the tops may be removed and I the body of. the beet carried tothe side of the frame and moved against a trimmer, whereby the top of the beet is shaved to remove the stubs of the top and any sprouts which may have grown thereon.

In order to increase the efiiciency of the machine, I provide two grippers which move in planetary paths, that is, revolve about their axesas they travel aroundja fixed point, one of said grippers being adapted for receiving the beet while theother is carrying a previously received beet to the trimmers and delivering same, to a conveyer. 9

The grippers are duplicates ofeach other and mounted on opposite sides of the gear casing 112 carried at about the centerof the main frame 1, but as each of'the grippers and its operating mechanism is identical with the other but one will be described in detail, with the understanding that such description relates equally. to both. At the side of the casing112 is a sub-' case 1133, (Figs. X11 and XVI) in'whichis journaled a horizontal shaft 114, having a beveled gear wheel. 115': fixed thereon and adapted for revoluble movement within the rected arm. 120.

Fixed in the top of the sub-case 113 and. extending downwardly through the pinion I 117 and-tubular member 118 isa shaft 121, thelower end of which seats in--the bearing 122 in the bottom of the case119and has a beveled. gear, wheel 123 rigidly fixed thereon. 1

shape ofa beet. I member 126 are bars 128 a head 129 at .is fixed ona shaft 136 revolubly mounted in and has a gear wheel 13%) revolu ,the gripper without damaging the beet or amialin -the laterally dire arm.

120 is a shaft 124, the inner end ofjwhich has'a pinion .125 within the case 119 and meshing with the 'gearwheel 12 3, and the outer end of-Whichcai'ries the fixed gripping mem'ber 126 which preferably comprises a piece of sheet metal having aback flange 127 curved inwardly to interrupt the travel of a beet coming up the conveyer, the body portion and the flange being both inclined to correspond with the' tapered Fixed on the (Fig. .XIV) which carry their outer end upon which the inwardly directed spring arms 'areinounted, the inward end of the arms v1 30 carrying the concave member l3l oflthe gripperin pos1t1on to close toward. he fixed member 126 and grip a beet therebetween.

Both of the "gripper members arepreferably provided vwith studs 132 for projection into abeet-to assist in holding the same in place.

is closed against the The movable member of the gripperfixed member by means of a toggle'mechaniSm 133, the link 134 of, which is connected with a crossbar 135 onthe spring arms 130 that carrythe movable member131 andthe crank member of which the'headQ129 and. in a bearing 137 which is carried by arms 138 extending from the bars 128.,

Theshaft 136 extends through the head ly mounted on its outer end andyieldingly connected therewith bya spring 140 (Fig. XV) which is adapted to tension when the shaft 136 draws the movable gripper member against a beet and thereby yieldingly hold same in the machine. I I

:In order to hold the movable member in its gripping position after it has been closed against the tension of the spring arms 130 by the revolution of the gear 139., I .rovide the shaft 136 with a ratchet 141 an pivot a pawl 142 on the head 129 so that the pawl maybeyieldingly held in position by the spring 143 for locking 1 member in aholdiug positiO'nl' The gear wheel 139 ,in each gripping mechanism meshes with a single driving gear Wheel 144 which is fixed on a shaft 145 revolubly mounted in bearing 146' which is the movable gripper suspended from the conveyer platform 36 carried ,beneath the gear casing 112 (Fig. XVII).

Revolubly mounted on the shaft 145 is a collar 148 having a half-revolution clutch member 149' at one end and a spiral-gear 150 at the opposite end (Fig. XX). Meshing with the wheel 150 is a driving gear 151 which is fixed ona shaft 152 revolubly mounted in bearing 153 on the con- 3c veyer plat-form and provided with a-beveled gear wheel 154 which meshes with a wheel 155 on a vertical-shaft 156 which extendsup through lthe bottom of thecgear casing and: is connected with a counter shaft 157 by beveled gears 157 XVIII).

The shaft 157 has a gear wheel158 meshing with the gear wheel 159 fixed on the gear (Figs. XVI and .shaft 160 which is journaled in .the casing 112 and extends forwardly therefrom to the main driving "shaft with which it is connected through the beveled gearing 161 so that when the'driving shaft is revolved the gear shaft will be constantly turned therewith.

The gear wheel 159 has a clutch face 163 adapted for engagement by the. slidingquarter-revolution clutch 164 which is feathered on the extended hub 165 of the beveled gear wheel 166 which meshes with. both of the gear wheels 167 on the horizontal shafts 114 through which the grippers are actuated.

An expansion spring 168 surounds the .portion of the hub between the beveled gear wheel and the clutch member and normally yieldingly tensions the clutch member out wardly so that it will automatically engage the clutch face 163 unless restrained. Also fixed on the gear shaft 160 at the forward end of the casing isa clutch member 170 .which is adapted for. engagement by a quarter-revolution clutch 171 feathered on the extended hub 172 of a gear wheel 173 which is adapted for engagement with the gear wheels 167 from the front and normally tensioned toward engagement with the fixed clutch by an expansion spring 174.

It is apparent that the beveled gears 166 and 173 will drive the gear wheels 167 in opposite-directions when connected with the shaft 160, and that by making connections alternately the grippers may be rocked to and fromthe trimming position, the movement of the separate grippers being opposite on account of each having individual connection with the voppositelyoperated gear wheels 167. g

In order to operate the mechanism at the proper time relative to the travel of the beet,

I provide releasing mechanism comprising a trigger 175 (Figs. IV and XVII) which is located at aboutthe level of the lower conveyer belts and in the path of the body of the beet and is pivotally mounted ina bracket 176 carried by the conveyer plat form. 1

The trigger '17 5 has a rod 177 connected withits upper end and runs backwardly to a bell crank lever 178 pivotally mounted on the conveyer frame 36 and the trip arm of which lies below a lip 179 of a latch bar 180.; (FigpXX) which is pivotally mounted ontheframe and extends thereacross abovethe. clutch member 181 which-is keyed; on shaft 145 and adapted for engagement with the half-revolution clutch 149 on the sleeve 148,

the outer end of the bar being normally held in'a slotted bracket 182 and its central portion having an incline 183 adapted for engaging pins 184 on the-loose clutch member to hold the clutch open against-the tension of a spring 185 and open the clutch against the tension of such spring when the latch bar is returned to active position after each half-revolution. I

Fiz'red on theshaft 145 is a double'throw cam 187 having two oppositely disposed dogs 188 thereon adapted for operative'em.

gagement with a trip 189 which is pivotally mounted on the conveyer platform and has I a link 190 extended upwardly and connected with a bell crank lever 191' (Figs. XII- and 'XVII) which is-pivotally 'mounted on the gear casing,a link 192 being also connected with a bell crank and with a trip 193 pivotally mounted on the forward portion of the casing and adapted for actuating a bar 194, (Fig. XVIII) similar to the bar 180 just described, for controlling the clutch,

member 195 which is feathered on a vertical shaft 196 in the gear casing and yieldingly tensioned toward a fixed clutch mem- 'Jou'rnaled in bearings 210 on the standard 207 is a vertical shaft 211 having gear con-. nection 212 with the shaft 205 and having a toggle 213, at its lower end, the toggle link 214 being extended inwardly beneath the conveyer-platform (Fig. IX) and connected with sliding knives'2l 5 which are adapted for cuttingthe tops from beets after the lat-Q ter have been secured in the grippers.

The gearing 212 is mine to one so that the cutting operation with each revolution of the shaft 205 and as the shaft 211, and its parts are duplicated on opposite sides of the frame the paired knives 215 cotiperate in cutting the tops from the beets.

J ournaled in a bearing-217 on the stand ard 207 is a vertical shaft 218 having a one to two gear connection 219 with-the shaft 205, and having a crank 220 fixed on its upshaft 211 makes a complete revolution and v per end. The crank 220 is connected with a 'bellcrank lever 221 by 'a link 222 and thej-- bell crankjlever in turn has a link 223 by "=which it is connected with" an, arm-of a T- lever224 pivotally mountedfon -theside of iso.

the casing. One arm of the T-lever is adapt-' ed for rocking'a latch bar 226 (Fig. 'XVI') which projects through the side of the easing and overhangs the inclined shipping arms 227 on the loose clutch member 171 on the'forward end of the gear shaft 160.

The latch bar 226 (Fig; XXX) has a depending boss 228 adapted to hold behind the lips 229 of each'shipping arm'and for engagement with'the inclined surface thereof, the bar being o f-suflicient-weight tov drop after the lever arm has left itscontact there,- with and drag against theshipping arms to movethe clutch-member-back against the tension of its spring.

As there are fourequally spaced'shippin arms there will be four independent actu tions ofthe clamp members for each complete revolution of the main gearshaft, or,

in other'words, the top cutters will makea complete operation with the main gear shaft the trimming 1 position.

when the connection is made through the beet actuated trip and one of: the members will be moved through one leg of'its operation for each actuation of the cutters, that isif the clamp ism receiving position it will move to the trimming position, or vice versa.

- In order to have a clamp in receivingpoclamps oppositely and provide a double trip for actuating same alternately, the trip on the second clamp being the duplicate of the first but so arranged that as the 'first clamp is moving'toward its trimming osi'-.

tion, the second clamp'is'moving away om position toward the receiving By providing the four clutchj'shipping arms for each of the clamp mechanism operating clutches, I get a quick operation: of' the clamps so that there is no likelihoodof a beet being brought to clamping position without one of the clamps being in position for receiving it. 1

The lever arms foroperating the clutch bars 226 are preferably spring cushioned'by providing same with tips 230 (Fig. XXI) which extend .into the sockets 231 in the.

ends of the levers and are slidably anchored bya pin and slot connection 232, a s ring 233 seating in the base of the socket an normally, yieldingly tensioning' the tips outwardly so that it may be in-position for engaging the clutch bars, but may yield inwardly when returning to set position, to

the curved knives 239 are pivotally mountedp The knives 239 have arms 240 project- 'sition at all times, I arrange vthe paired ed into the'seat 241 of a concaved block 242 sli'dably mounted on the shaft and have rollers 2'44. adapted to slide on the inclined face of the block, a spring 245 surrounding the shaft and bearing against-the base. of the block and against the collar 237to yieldingly tension the collar outwardly and hold the "knives in normally spread position.

The bearing 236 is mounted on a bracket 247 and pivotally mounted on theouter end of said bracket is a lever 248, one end of which has a pin 249projected into a peripheral groove 250 in a collar 251 fixed on the end of the shaft, and the other end of 'said lever carries a spring 252 which is connected with the bar 247 and yieldin lyftensions the shaft outw'ardly; Rising om 1ever 248 is a shaft 248' which is provided with a lever 248 at the top, (Fig. I) the latter-behigconnected by means of a link 249' to ajlever 249" on shaft;250' that carries a foot pedal 250" near the operators seat,

bar247 is a setting arm 253, aving a curved outer end projected inwardly. past the knives 239, the outer end of said arm having a boss 254 projected into an annular groove 255 in a socket block 242..

It is apparent that when the shaft 235 is moved outwardly by the tension of the spring- 252 the knife arms 240 pushing Pivotally mounted onia in 253 on the i against the block 242 will rock the arm 25.3

to bring its outer end close. to the knife blades. The outer end of said arm is adapted for engagement by a wiper'256 (Fig.

XVI) on the movable member of the beet clamp, as the latter moves toward the trimmer, it being apparent that when a large beet is in the clamp the wiper will project farther than'when a small beet is therein, and'therefore will displace-the arm 253 to a greater extent than for a small beet. I The displacement of the arm 253, determines the spread of the knives 239 so that the space therebetween is regulated according to the size of-the beet, "with the result that when the head-.of a beet of any size is projected 'into the trimmer, the knives are set to op crate for that particular size of beet.

In order to actuate the knives, I provide the shaft 235 with a spool 260 which is feathered on the shaft. and comprises a sprocket wheel '261 and beveled gear wheel 2 62, the gear wheel 262 meshing with a similar gear wheel263 on a shaft 264, having gearing connection 265' with a shaft 266 {which is-journale'd in bearings 267 on the main gear case and has gear connection 269 with the main gear shaft 160, so that the trimmer is operated continuously while the machine is in operation, and the knives are always ready to acton a beet when the clamper moves same into the trimmer.

In order to steady the clamps'during the trimming operation I'provide the member i 118 with rigld arms 118' (Fig. XII)' whichr delivered at the side 'of the apparatus 1nare adapted for frictionaltenga'gement with the under side of frame '1. I

After the clamper has carried a beet to the trimmer it. returns same on its next op'- eratio-n, and whentheclamper is over about the center ofthe'machine the pawl 142 engages a lip 271 (Fig. XIII) on an arm;

272' which is carried by the mounting collar 27.3ff the clamping frame, so that the pawl is rock ed to release the ratchet 141 and allow the sprin tension of the arms 130 tospread .the movable clamp member from "astationary member, so-that a beet may droptherefrom onto a conveyer which is adapted for tugging the trimmed beets .up into a stor age receptacle. I

The trip lip 271 is hinged to the'arm 272 so that as. the clamper frame revolves for--' I wardly the lip may yield against the tension of the spring 275 to allow the cl'am'per to' pass without releasing'the awl-and ratchet. The elevator up'on whic theclamper is adapted to drop the beets comprises side members 275 which are secured to the'main frame 1 by bars'277 and a shaft 278 *(Fig. I).

In the ends of the'side members arerev- I olubly mounted the shafts 279Wl1iCh carry an apron'280 having slats 281 thereon." On. the upper shaft 279 is a sprocket wheel 282 and running over said sprocket wheel and over a like whe l 283.0n 'a shaft 278 is a chain belt 283' which is adapted to revolve the apron when the shaft278 is revolvedj The shaft 278-has a sprocket wheel 284 and a chain 285 runs over said sprocket wheel and over the sprocket wheel 261 on the spool 260 on the trimmer shaft, sothat the elevator is constantly actuated whilethe The upper end of the elevator is projected over a chute 287: in the front of a receptacle 288 (Figs."XXVI and XXVII) which is-pivotally mounted on a shaft 289 that is mounted on and extends rearwardly from the frame 1 and is provided with a caster wheel-290 for siip 'porting'the receptacle and the rear portion of the main frame.

I The receptacle is divided horizontally to provide a lower chamber for the beets and an upper chamber for the tops which are delivered thereto from the lower and upper conveyers respectively, each of'said chambers having hinged doors 291292 at the ends.

rope 295 whichis attached to a crank me1n- Each door is held closed by a-latch 293 294, thelatches of. both doors on the-same end of the receptacle being connected with 'a her 296 on a shaft 297' on the main frame 4 and operable from a foot lever 298 located adjacent the drivers seat, so that the doors may be opened manually at will. i

stead of in the path thereof, I provide for moving the receptacle laterally by providing the shaft 289 with.- a'frame 300 having guide rollers 301 adapted for travel along a cross-traclr-"302 at the rear of the frame,

. the movement being effected througha lever 303 which is connected with thetraveler 300 by a link 304 and hand-wheel 305 which is located adjacent the operators seat. I Y The trip 306 is fixed to the track 302 and adapted for engaging: the sides 307 of a central, recessed portion 308'beneath the receptacle, so that as the latter is moved to one limit. of its lateral travel" it will engage the stop and tilt on its ivotal mounting to dump thecontents of t' e the end doors thereof.

When the receptacle is tilted, the beets in receptacle through the-lower chamber will be first dumped onto the ground and the tops from. the upper receptacle will fall thereon soia sto cover the 'pile of beets and protectsame from the weather, w In use, the apparatus travels throu'h the field with the shovel plowing a row 0 beets so that the latter are loosened from"-the ground and their tops gripped by the upper conveyer chains, the chains traveling at the same speed as the apparatus, so that the beets are lifted vertically from the ground. I

When the beets are removedfrom the ground they travel up the conveyer, the body portions moving past the friction blocks at the being gripped by the lower conveyer belts, so that they are held firmly in a vertical position. As the beets arecarried upwardly through the 'conveyer they pass the saws whichfcut notches in the sides thereof, and

after passing. the saws each beet. in turn enters one of the grippers 126. Simultaneously with its entry into the gripper the beet engages the lever 17 5- as shown in dotted lines Fig. XVII releasing the clutch on the shaft 145 so that connection is Iriade with the gear wheel 144, which latter then oper- .ates to revolve the gripper shaft 136 and 189 is actuated to engage the shaft 203 with the main gear shaft so that the top cutters areactuated to cut the top from the body of the beet, the parts acting simultaneously but'in such quick succession that the deliv 100 lower: endof the coiiveyer and afterward and the .thp's are cutting of the tops,

ery of the beet biodyto'the grippers does not interferegwith the travel of the conveyer to be delivered into the top of the .receptacle therefor. Simultaneously with the the trip mechanism for throwing the transmission for the active gripping. set/into gear with the main gear wheel is actuated so that as soon asthe top has been cut the hanger shaft 118 is re volved to move the grippers laterally to-' ward the side of the frame and the trimmer.

As the hangershaft revolves, the gripper shaft 1% isrevolved and the gear wheel on its inner end turning on the stationary gear 123 revolves the gripper so that by 'the' time the latter reaches the trimming position it is traveling substantially horizontally and the large end of the beet is projected into the trimmer knives, the boss 256 on the gripper engaging the arm 253 to regulate the opening'to the size of the beet for each separate operation.-

pedal mechanism, 1 away all sprouts so that when the latter is returnedto the I tus, the pawl 142' which has held the gripper conveyer position it is in condition for use. As the beet reaches the center of the apparamembers together engages the lip 271and is ,automaticall members an allow the beet todrop onto the rocked to release the ratchet 141 so that the spring arms of the loose gripper member spread to separate the gripper elevator. The beet isthencalrried up the elevator and delivered into the'lower cham- .Lto'receivea succeeding beet, the actuations ber of the receptacle" within" which it is stored until the receptacle is full. Whilethe first gripper is moving toward the trimming; os ition, the other gripper returns from its trimming position so that it, is readyor the two grippers alternating and the gear- 'ingffor the'various parts beingtso arranged that the different operations described are performed on the proper sets of mechanism andin proper order. When the receptacles have been 'filled, the operator turns the hand wheel 305 to move the receptacle to either the right or left of he machine and opens the doors to allow-the contents of'the recep tacles to empty onto the ground. l I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by-Letters Patent, is:

1. A beet harvester comprising a-conveyer adapted for engaging the tops of a beet, means for holding the body of-a beet, a top cutteigand a trimmer adapted for actuation followingthe actuation of the top cutter. j

2. A beet harvester comprising means for removing a beet from the ground, conveyer.

carried on up by the lattermoving the located withi adapted for rece ving.

' veyer,

and elevator mechanisms adapted for separately delivering beet tops and bodies/means for separating the bodies from the tops during the travel of the beet through the harvester, and means for trimming the heads of the beets following the top cutting operation.

3. In a beet harvester, a conveyer adap'ted for engaging the tops of beets and carrying same through theharvester, a gripper I adapted for interrupting the travel-ofthe beet bodies,' a trimmer, means for cutting the tops from the bodies, and mechanism formoving the'gripper toward and from the trimmer and for delivering the beet as the gripper approaches initial position. i

4, A beet harvester comprising a conveyer, means for removing beets from the ground and delivering same to the conveyer, a subconveyer'adapted for engaging the beet bodies, a top cutter, a gripper adapted for receiving the beet bodies from the subconveyor, a trimmer, and mechanism for gripper toward and from the trimmer, and for turning the beet during its movement toward the trimmer.

. 5. Ina beet harvester, a conveyor extending continuously through the harvester and adapted for carrying beet tops, a sub-con- 'veyer adapted for holding beet bodies, a gripper adapted for projection into the path of the beet bodies, a trip located within the path of the bodies, mechanism releasable by said trip for closm-g the gripper .and for moving same. to and from a trimming position, a trimmer, andvmeans for opening 1 0 the gripper as the latter,reaches a delivery osition on its return from the trimmer. i

6. A beet harvester comprising a 'conveyer adapted for supporting beets from the-tops, a sub-conveyer adapted for holding the beet bodies, a normally open gripper located within the path of the beets, mechanism for closing the. gripper comprising a normally active' 'shaft and clutch-mechanism, a .trip and adapted for actuating said clutches, means'fo-r moving the gripper toward and froma trimming position, a trimmer for en-' gaging beetsflcarrled thereto by the gripper, means for .opening'the' gripper, an elevator 1 5 the beets from the gripper, arid a receptacle having-separate compartments into which the. beet tops and bodies are delivered, for the purpose set 7 A beet harvester comprising a frame and ground wheels, a plow suspended from said frame, a conveyer frame universally mounted on the frame at one end, body, gripping belts on said conveyer extending 25 froma point above said plow to a point beyond he universal mounting of said cona plurality of tines on said plow underlying the lower portion of said conveyer, a lower set of belts extending from the exthe path -of the beet bodies 11o "et rnity of said tines to 'a point short of the and ground .wheels, a plow, a conveyer and an elevator supported in said frame, belts on said conveyer for taking beets from said I plow and for delivering the'beet tops at the rear of the conveyer, a cutting device for separating the beets from their tops, av gripper for engaging the beet, means for changing the positionof the gripper, a trimmer for engaging the' beet in the latter position, means for returning the. gripper to its former position, a trip for releasing the beet during the last named operation, and means for operating said elevator to .deliver the beets at the rear of the frame.

9. A beet harvester comprising a frame and ground Wheels, a plow, a conveyer and an elevator supported in' tandem in said frame, belts on said conveyer for engaging beet tops, belts on the bottom of the conveyer for engaging beet bodies, a gripper at the end of said bottom belts, a cutter between said gripper and the top belts, a trimmer, means for revolving said gripper into the plane of the trimmer, means for manually forcing the trimmer against a beet held by the gripper, and means for, releasing the gripper to-free the beet. I

'10. In a beet harvester, a plow having a forwardly projecting frame,- colter wheels pivotally mounted in said frame, a conveyer. extending upwardly and rearwardly fromthe plow, tops and body gripping belts on said conveyor, and guards on said conveyer having legs passing over each of said colter wheels and continuing parallel to eachof said'belts,'and-having their inner ends terminating over the ends of said belts.

11. In a beet harvester having a frame, a plow, a. gear box secured near the center of said frame, a platform suspended from said gear box, a pair of downwardly andforwardly inclined conveyer members universally mounted on said platform, a bail pivotally connecting the inclined 1 members, a hand lever on saidframe secured to. said bail, a pair of belts for each of said inclined members, a plurality of yieldable blocks beneath said belts arranged to form a channel, and a plurality of tines secured to said plow and adapted for projection beneath a portion of said channel and said inclined conveyer members, for the purpose set forth.

12. In a beet harvester having a frame, a

' plow, a gear box secured near the center of to form a channel, 'bail for supporting the lower ends of said inclined members, a hand sally mounted on said platform and spaced saw merging into'the edges of thenpper channel, another pair of' circular saws-in clined downwardly and toward each other and forming a vertex with theiother' saws, an upper belt for each ofsaid inclined members, aplurality of revolubly mounted and vertically yield'able sheave wheels for carrying said belts and a pair of sprocket wheels for driving said belts and clampsadapted for intermittently operating adjacent said belts and said channel, forthe purpose-set forth. a v

13. In a beet-harvester having a frame,-a plow, a gear box, a'p'latform suspended from the gear box, a pair ofdownwardly inclined conveyer members universally mounted on said platform and'spaced to'form a channel, a plurality of yieldable blocks carried by said members and projecting into said chan nel, a setof saws for grooving and sizing each beet, a pair of flanges forreceiving said beets and clamps for removing beets from said channel. V

1 1. In a beet harvester having a frame and ground wheels, a plow, a'gear box, a platform suspended from said gear box, a pair of downwardly inclined conveyer members universally hinged to said platform, slidable on said plow and spaced to form a. channel, a pair of belts paralleling said channel, a plurality of yieldable sheave wheels for supporting said belts, sprocket wheels at the lower ends of said belts, a

shaft supported on said frame and actuatedfrom said ground wheels, a step-up gear mechanism adjacent said shaft, ail-inclined shaft on said inclined member, a shaft flex ibly connecting said firstnamed shaft and said last named shaft, a transverse shaft on said inclined member having step-down gear connection with said inclined shaft, gear connection between said transverse shaft and one of said sheave wheels, and gear and shaft connection between said sheave wheel and said sprocket wheel, substantially as, specified.

15. Inv a beet harvester having a frame and ground wheels, a plow, a gear box, a

platform suspended from said gear box, a pair of downwardly inclined conveyer members universally hinged to said platform, slidable on said plow and spaced to form a channel, a pair of belts paralleling said channel, a plurality, of sheave wheels for yieldingly supporting said belts, sprocket I wheels at the lower ends of saidbelts, circular saws diverging from opposite sides of said. channel, and apair of cutters erable from the sides of the channel, and a jacent said belts, and a clamp beneath said cutters. v

16. In a beet harvester, a frame and ground wheels, a plow, a gear box, a platform suspended from said gear box, a downwardly inclined channeled conveyermember, conveyer belts operable on each side of said channel and extending beyond said plat form, a clamp pivotally mounted on said gear box and adapted for projection beneath said platform, .a clutch onsaid platform, a trip for releasing said clutch when engaged by a beet, a gear operable from the clutch for closing'isaid clamp, and means for op-; erating the clutch.

17. In "a" beet harvester, a frame and ground wheels, a plow, a gear box, a platform suspended from said gear box, a downwardly inclined conveyer member having a channel, conveyer belts on each side of said 26 channel and extending beyond said platform, a clamp pivotally mounted on said gear box and adapted for projection beneath said platform, a one-half revolution clutch on said platform,'a trip projected into said 30 channel for releasing said clutch, a gear operable from the clutch for closing theclamp, a doublethrow cam operable from the clutch and adapted for actuating the clamp, and means for releasing said clamp.

18. In a beet harvester, a frame and ground wheels, an axle for said wheels, a gear boxin said frame, driving connection between said gear box and said axle, a shaft Y in said gear box, a pair of facing bevel gears 40 revoluble on said shaft clutch connection 171 between said gears and said shaft, subcases on each side of said gear box, a tubular right-angled arm revoluble in each of said sub-cases, a' bevel gear in each side of said gear box adapted to mesh with said facing gears, gear connectionbetween said right-angled arms and-t e bevel gears in the sides of the gear box, a platform suspended from said gear box, means for de livering beets to-said platform, a clamp on said right-angled arm adapted for projection beneath said platform, the clutch 181 on said platform, a trip for releasing 'said clutch,

a gear operable from said clutch for closing said clamp, a cam operable from said clutch for releasing said clutches 171, and mechanism interposed between said cam and said clutches 171 for releasing same alternately. '19. In a beet harvester, a frame and 9 running gear, a gear box in said frame, driving connection between said gearbox and running gear, a shaft in said gear box, a pair of facing bevel gears revoll'ible on said shaft, clutch connection 171 between said, gears and said shaft, sub-cases on each side one leg of said arm, a shaft revoluble in the other leg of said arm and having bevel gear connection with said stationary shaft, a clamp rigidly secured to-said revoluble shaft and means for releasing-said clutches to revolve said right-angled arm in its sub-case and the clamp on its arm, for the purpose set forth. I l

20. In a beet harvester, aframe and running gear, a gear box in said frame, a platform suspendedirom. said gear box, 'means for conveying beets to said 1 platform, a clutch on said platform, a trip for, said clutch, gear connection between said clutch and-said gear box, a gear operatively con-' nected with said clutch, sub-cases on,opposite sides of said gear box, right-angled arm members revoluble in said sub-cases, a shaft in said gear box, clutches on said shaft, gear connection between said clutches and said arms, a clamp on said arms adapted for pro- -jection beneath said platform, gear closing means on'said clamp ad'aptedfor engagement by said platform gear, another clutch in said gear box, a cutteron said platform gear connection between said cutter and saidclutch, means operable from said last named gearing for alternately tripping said arm clutches, and means ope able from said plat .form clutch for releasing said cutter clutch,

21. In a beet harvester, a frame and running gear, a gear box in the frame, a platform suspended from said gear box, clamps pivotally mounted onsaid gear box, cutters slidably mounted 'on 'said platform, and mechanism releasable by the beet for closing the clamp, actuatingthe cutters and alternately moving the clamps into and out of i I position beneath the platform.

22. In a beet harvester, a frame and runf ning gear, a gear box in the frame, a platform suspended from said gear box, means for conveying beets to said platform, rightangled arm members pivotally mounted in said gear box, clamps on said right-angled arm members, each clamp comprising a curved member having pivotal connection with the arm, a curved member opposite the first curved member, a springjrame connecting said curved members and adapted to normally hold them apart, a shaft revolubly mounted in said frame, crank and link connection for drawing the curved members together against the tension of the frame, a ratchet and pawl for holding the same in such position, a gear yieldably mounted on said shaft, and means on said platform for engaging said gear to close said clamp.

23. In a beet harvester, a frame and run- 

